Tool for turning keys

ABSTRACT

A tool ( 1; 1101 ) for turning keys comprising a tool body ( 3; 103 ) having an elongate slot ( 4; 104 ) adapted to removably receive the head of a key ( 2; 102 ). The tool ( 1; 101 ) has an aperture ( 6; 106 ), by means of which a key ring ( 7; 107 ) is attached to the tool. The aperture may have a constriction to prevent the key ring sliding along its length, therefore preventing the key becoming accidentally engaged in the slot in someone&#39;s pocket. A second slot ( 5; 105 ) is provided, crossing the elongate slot ( 4; 104 ) and perpendicular to it, to accommodate the part of the key ring ( 7; 107 ) nearest to the key ( 2; 102 ). In addition to its use to turn a key ( 2; 102 ), the elongate slot ( 4; 104 ) may also be used to engage with the ring pull on a can, and the tool body used to lever the ring pull, opening the can.

The present invention relates to a tool for turning keys.

Numerous people find it difficult to turn a key in a lock. This can bebecause a person suffers from a lack of dexterity, e.g. because ofarthritis, or because the lock itself is stiff, e.g. due to warping ofthe door or frame.

Most keys have a key shank which is inserted into the lock and a keyhead in the form of a plate which can be gripped by the fingers. The keyhead is not normally particularly wide which makes it difficult for somepeople to grip and it does not provide much mechanical advantage intuning the key shank.

It is known to provide a key turner which is somewhat similar to a penknife in that, instead of a blade, a key is hinged to rotate in and outof a slot in turner body, with the turner body acting as a handle torotate the key when it is hinged out of the body. Such key turners oftensupport two keys and are somewhat large and unsightly and are onlydesigned for certain shapes of keys. Also, they can only be used withthe keys to which they are hinged, and do not allow keys rings to befitted to the keys to support other items.

The invention seeks to provide a tool to enable keys to be turned moreeasily.

People with arthritis or with a lack of dexterity in addition are likelyto face a problem with operating the ring pulls on cans. Also, peoplewho are concerned with damaging their fingernails or fake nailattachments may have difficulty with operating ring pulls. Damage,scratches or chipping is deemed as painful, problematic and costly. Thisis particularly true if nail attachments need to be replaced. In thecold it can be difficult for people to operate ring pulls withouttalking off their gloves, e.g. during winter sports. This isinconvenient.

Most modern ring pulls remain either attached to the can (soft drinks)or to the top removable face of the container (cat food or sardine can).The ring pull has a flat body that is riveted to the container and actsas a lever with the rivet acting as the fulcrum. The flat body is notnormally particularly long or wide which makes it difficult for somepeople to apply the necessary effort. It does not provide a suitablemechanical advantage ratio between load needed to open the container andthe effort input.

It is known to provide a ring pull for cans which is a steel loop thathas a rod extension with a hooked end. The loop handle is large enoughfor all four fingers to fit through so that the hooked end extension canbe located under the ring pull and levered up. Such ring pulls for cansrequire good coordination to locate properly on the can and are somewhatlarge and unsightly and are unlikely to be carried “on person”. For cansthat retain the ring pull (soft drinks), they only aid part of thenormal process as the device is unable to push back the opened ring pullinto, for example, the drinking position. This has to be done manually.

The tool of the invention may further be adapted for opening cans bylevering ring pulls. The invention has two different processes foropening the two forms of ring pull container.

The present invention provides a tool for turning keys comprising a toolbody having an elongate slot adapted to removably receive the head of akey. In one embodiment the tool body has an aperture at one end carryinga key ring. The tool body may also have a second slot substantiallynormal to and crossing said elongate slot whereby a first point on thekey ring can rotate about said aperture such that a second opposingpoint on the key ring can engage into said second slot with a key headcarried on said opposing point also engaging said elongate slot. Thesecond slot is spaced from the aperture by a minimum distance equal totwo opposing points on the key ring and can be straight or curved or anyother shape that serves its function.

For example slot 2 can be configured into a hook shape so that thesecond slot can function as a hooked lever for opening ring pullcontainers where the lid needs to be peeled off. Another alteration ofslot 2 is it modification into a bottle top opener that can lever offcrimped tops on such containers as beer bottles.

The aperture for the key ring may be an elongate aperture, or a largevoid of any shape to decrease the units weight and material costs. Theaperture may also be aesthetically pleasing for example the shape of aheart a star or an animal etc. The aperture may be located near the edgeof the body, so that the key ring can easily be threaded on.

The tool may be lightweight, and approximately the same length as adeadlock key. The tool body may be a unitary construction, but mightrequire a stronger composite construction when used for crimped bottletops. The tool body may also be adapted for use as a lever, to aid theopening of ring pulls on cans.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention,showing a key attached to a key ring with a tool thereon prior to use ofthe tool;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the tool of the first embodiment ofthe invention in use with a key,

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows an edge view of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a top view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a comparison between a block shaped key fob and a taperedkey fob;

FIG. 7 shows a tool according to the second embodiment of the inventionwhen in use with a ring pull;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention,having a curved upper surface;

FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention, having a plurality ofkeys attached by chains; and

FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of the fourth embodiment of the invention,with a rotatable turntable to which the keys are attached;

FIGS. 11 a to 11 c show a modification of the first embodiment, with thewidth of the tool reduced;

FIG. 12 shows a variation of the first embodiment in which an adapteddead lock key system where the lock end has been replaced by shafts ofdifferent tools, for example screwdriver heads or Allan keys;

FIGS. 13 a to 13 d show a fifth embodiment of the invention where slot 2is adapted into a ring pull hook that can be used to open drink cans;

FIGS. 14 a to 14 d show the fifth embodiment in use with a ring pullcontainer requiring the removal of the entire can top e.g. sardine can;

FIG. 15 shows an adaptation of the fifth embodiment in which slot 402can remove crimped bottle tops, e.g. beer bottles;

FIG. 16 shows a sixth embodiment of the device having a dual symmetrythat can accommodate two key rings;

FIG. 17 shows a seventh embodiment with an alternative symmetry design;

FIGS. 18 a and 18 b show an eighth embodiment with an alternativesymmetry design;

FIGS. 19 a and 19 b show a ninth embodiment with an alternative ringpull design;

FIGS. 20 a to 20 c show a tenth embodiment with the elongate slot havingno inner steps. Instead, the faces are angled with respect to theelongate faces of the tool;

FIGS. 21 a and 21 b show a variation of the first embodiment in whichthe elongate slot runs the entirety of the side of the tool;

FIG. 22 shows a variation of the first embodiment in which parts of thebody have been removed to reduce material requirements;

FIGS. 23 a and 23 b show a further variation of different configurationsfor the key ring elongate aperture; and

FIGS. 24 a and 24 b show an eleventh embodiment of the invention inwhich a quick release system is employed for removal and attachment ofkeying to device.

In a first embodiment of the invention the tool body has elongaterectangular faces spaced by two longer and two shorter side walls, saidelongate slot being provided in one longer side wall adjacent one cornerof the tool body. The elongate slot may also extend through one shorterside wall adjacent the longer side wall. The elongate slot may includeone or more inner steps to accommodate the thicker shaft found on astandard deadlock key.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a tool 1 for turning a key 2. Toot 1comprises a tool body 3 having an elongate slot 4 adapted to receive thehead 2A of the key.

Tool body 3 is formed as a unitary construction moulded from plastics.Tool body 3 has elongate rectangular faces 3A, 3B spaced by two longerand two shorter side walls 3C, 3D and 3E, 3F respectively. The elongateslot 4 is provided in longer side wall 3C adjacent one comer of the toolbody and also extends through shorter side wall 3E adjacent the longerside wall.

Tool body 3 has a second slot 5 normal to and crossing the elongate slot4. Slot 5 extends inwards from longer side wall 3C.

Tool body 3 also has an elongate aperture 6 at one end carrying a keyring 7. The second slot 5 is spaced from the elongate aperture by adistance X which is equal to the distance of two opposing first andsecond points A, B on the key ring or, because the key ring shown iscircular, the diameter of the key ring.

The wall thickness of the body 3 between the end of elongate aperture 6and side wall 3F is narrow to allow the key ring to be easily threadedinto the aperture.

As shown in FIG. 2, when it is desired to turn the key 2, first point Bon the key ring 7 can rotate in the aperture 6 such that the secondpoint A on the key zing 7 can engage into the second slot 5 with a keyhead 2A carried on the second point A also engaging the elongate slot 4.

Key 2 can then be turned using tool 1 as a lever to rotate the key 2when the key shank 2B is inserted into lock 8.

In use of the invention shown in the drawings, it may be preferred tofirst insert the key 2 in the lock with the tool 1 dangling below thekey 2 on the key ring 7 as shown in FIG. 1. The tool 1 is then raisedand rotated manually so that the key head 2A enters the elongate slot 4as shown in FIG. 2.

The elongate slot 4 may include one or more inner steps 9A, 9B toaccommodate different widths of key shanks, e.g. to accommodate latchtype keys as shown or mortise lock keys with a wider shank. Chubb typekeys with smaller shanks will be prevented from sliding in too far.

It will be appreciated that the elongate aperture 6 allows the body 3 tohave sufficient length to give a good mechanical advantage whilstrotating the key 2, yet it also allows the provision of a narrow sectionbetween the elongate aperture 6 and side wall 3F to thread a key ringeasily through the slot

It will be appreciated that a number of keys could be held on the keyring 7, and each separately can be located in slot 4 when it is desiredto turn one in a lock.

The invention may take a form other than that specifically described.For example the key ring 7 could be other than circular. Indeed the tool1 need not be adapted to take a key ring 7 but could be used on its ownto rotate a key 1. Alternatively, the key ring 7 could be replaced by aloop or a chain or a cord. There could be a separate chain or cord foreach key, or the chain or cord could be attached to a key ringcontaining one or more keys.

The tool body could be other than rectangular in shape. The body couldbe plastic or metal. It could be graphite impregnated plastic e.g. agraphite composite impregnated with fibreglass for extra strength.Preferably, the key fob is made by injection moulding using ABS plastic.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the present invention

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show a side view, an edge view and a top viewrespectively of a second embodiment of the invention. The faces 103A and103B are tapered such that the tool narrows towards the end with theaperture 106, to allow keys 102 to lie next to the tool 101 withoutbeing pushed out. This also has the advantage of taking up less room onthe key fob. The faces may be patterned to aid grip.

FIG. 6 shows a comparison between a rectangular key fob 1, which pushesthe keys outwards in an awkward and inconvenient way, and a tapered keyfob 101, e.g. as shown in the second embodiment of the invention. It isthe comer 30, 130 which pushes out the key 2, 102 and this effect isgreatly reduced in the embodiment with the tapered faces.

In the second embodiment of the invention, a few other advantageousfeatures are also shown. The steps 109A, 109B inside the elongate slot104 are chamfered instead being at right angles to the inner faces ofthe elongate slot 104. When the tool is used to open a ring pull on acan, this allows the ring pull to slide over the step without gettingstuck in the corner. The edges of the elongate slot 104 are tapered, tomake it easier to slide the tool underneath a ring pull, in order tolocate the ring pool in the elongate slot 104.

FIG. 7 shows a tool according to the second embodiment of the invention,when in use to operate a ring pull 124 of a can 120 on a top 121 of thecan 120. The ring pull 124 is received in the elongate slot 104 of thetool body 103.

When it is desired to lever the ring pull 124, first contact to theunderside of ring pull 124 is made with either tapered corner 103G or103H, or with a tapered edge of the elongate slot 104. The ring pull 124may be received in the elongate slot 104 via the end face 103E or theside face 103C of the tool. However, receiving it via the end face 103Ewill allow a higher degree of leverage, due to the greater length of thetool normal to the end face 103E. The ring pull 124 can then be leveredupwards using the tool as an extension of the ring pull 124. When thetab 123 of the ring pull 124 is opened to provide a sufficient opening122 the tool can be used to move the ring pull 124 to its originalposition.

The second slot 105 is curved to follow the path subtended by the keyring 107 as it is rotated around the aperture 106. This ensures that thekey ring 107 will not become too tight as it is pushed further into thesecond slot.

It is also be possible to alter the curvature of the second slot 105 sothat the key ring 101 has a tight fit against the second slot 105 as itis initially inserted, but a looser fit once it is inside the secondslot 105.

A potential problem with the key turning tool is that a key 102 maybecome accidentally engaged in the elongate slot 104 inside the pocketof the user. It may then stab into the user's body. To prevent the keyring 107 sliding into the elongate slot 104 and the key 102 becomingaccidentally engaged in the elongate slot 104 in someone's pocket, theaperture 106 has a constriction 106D which prevents the key ring 107from being moved from one end of the aperture 106A to the other end 106Cwithout a small force being applied This is illustrated in FIG. 3 and inFIG. 7. This helps to keep the key ring 107 in the part 106A of theaperture 106 furthest from the second slot 105 when the tool is insomeone's pocket. The force could easily be applied when a key 102 is inthe lock, by turning the tool body 103 so that the aperture 106 is atthe bottom, then pushing downwards on the tool body 103 against the keyring 107.

A further solution to this problem in another embodiment of the presentinvention is to have a key ring or loop which requires flexing to reachthe slot. The key ring 107 could be made of a metal which when slightlystretched, attempts to revert back to its original shape. It would thenbe possible to have the diameter of the key ring slightly smaller thanthe distance X between the second slot 105 and the part of the aperture106C nearest to the second slot 105. When the device is used with alock, a weak downward force on the tool could be enough to warp the keyring, increasing its internal diameter to distance x, and allowing it tofit into the second slot 105. As this would be very unlikely to happenaccidentally in someone's pocket, the problem of the key unintentionallybecoming engaged in the slot would be avoided. Similarly, it would alsobe possible to have the diameter of the key ring slightly larger thanthe distance X, such that the key ring had to be compressed slightly inorder to fit into the slot

FIG. 8 shows a tool having an elongate aperture 204 and a curved upperface 203E, to allow a key ring to pivot over the top of the upper face203E. The curved face 203E is at an opposed end of the tool body 203 toan aperture 206 for receiving a key ring. There is no need for a secondslot in this embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention. The aperture and keyring are replaced by a turntable 310 and a cord or chain 311 for eachkey 302. The turntable 310 is rotatable on the tool body 303 to allowthe relevant key 302 to be positioned nearest to the elongate slot 304.The second slot 305 allows the cord or chain to be accommodated in thetool body on either side of the key. Along the side 303C there isprovided a recess 500 along which the chain 311 will lie when the key302 is engaged in the slot 304. FIG. 10 shows a bottom view of thefourth embodiment, in which the turntable 310 can clearly be seen.

FIG. 11 shows a modification of the first embodiment with the width offaces 3 a and 3 b reduced. The elongate slot 4 transverses from 3 c to 3d. Slot 5 is condensed into a semi circle. Alternatively, slot 5 may notbe present at all, the two faces 3 a, 3 b simply engaging the key ring7.

FIG. 12 shows a variation of the first embodiment, where tool 3 can beused as a lever for different application heads 2 c attached to amodified key 2. This enables rapid exchange of different tool heads andreduces the volume of tools as only one handle is required for many toolheads. The heads may be Allan key heads or screwdriver heads or thelike.

FIG. 13 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention. In this embodimentslot 405 is modified so that its head is formed into a hook 405 a FIGS.13 c and 13 d show how hook 405 a can be used to lever the ring pull 424upwards and open the can.

FIG. 14 shows a use of the fifth embodiment. A hook 405 a open a peeloff ring pull lid 425. The hook 405 a is inverted and slid under thering pull 424 of a can. Peel off lid 425 is levered open using tool face403 a. Once opened sufficiently peel off lid 425 is pulled off

FIG. 15 shows a modification to the fifth embodiment. The slot 405 b ismodified from the slot of the fifth embodiment so that it can accept abottle top 430. The slot 405 b has a trench 405 c that grips the crimpedcap 430. Pulling tool 403 up and away from the bottle 431 removes bottletop 430.

FIG. 16 shows a sixth embodiment in which a bi-symmetrical design isemployed where the point of symmetry is along face 503 d. This enablestwice the capacity of keys 502 to be carried on two key rings 507.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show seventh and eighth embodiments in which differentbi-symmetrical designs are employed. In the seventh and eighthembodiments the shapes are a heart and a fish, but other suitable shapescould also be used.

FIG. 19 shows a ninth embodiment of the invention. The ninth embodimentdiffers from the fifth embodiment in that a separate notch 830 isprovided for opening cans in addition to slot 805. This strengthens thestructure of the embodiments of FIGS. 13 and 14. The ninth embodimentdiffers from the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14 by the addition of thenew notch 830, with the same orientation as slot 105, that can hook aring pull 124. However, this embodiment functions in the same manner asthe embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 20 shows a tenth embodiment in which, instead of inner steps 9A and9B, the sides of slot 904 at origin of 903D can be angled such that theinternal separation of the sides is greatest at 903C. This will enablethe device to fit all keys without the complications of extraction thatinner steps cause from injection moulding machines.

FIG. 21 shows slot 4 running from face 3E to 3F. In this instance thereis no requirement for distance X and any key ring 7 can be attached andused by the device.

FIG. 22 shows a variation on the first embodiment. Faces 3 a and 3 bhave been cut away to form a triangular cut out between 3D and 3F, and afurther triangular cut out of the corner joining 3C and 3F, so that onlythe functional parts exist. This makes the device cheaper and morelightweight.

FIG. 23 shows a further variation of the first embodiment, wherein theelongate aperture 6 comprises a large void. This embodiment retains thefunctionality of the device but reduces weight and manufacturing cost.Various cut out shapes can be employed.

FIG. 24 shows an eleventh embodiment in which tool body 1003 comprises aspring attachment 1010 that makes up elongate slot 1006. The springmetal when pressed inwards towards the body 1003 enables a gap to begenerated which enables the keying to be removed or attached.

The key fob of any of the previously described embodiments may beprovided with a line of weakness across its body, so that if anexcessive force is applied, the key fob will break along this line ofweakness before the key itself becomes damaged This is indicated by line400 in the embodiment of FIG. 9. This avoids over-stressing the key. Agood place to locate the fault line is at the base of the slot 304, thefault line could be arranged inside the slot 304 so as not to affect theaesthetic qualities of the device.

The invention may take a form other than that specifically described.For example, the elongate slot could transverse the two shorter sidewalls 3C, 3D. The tool body could also be other than rectangular inshape. It is possible that individual features from various embodimentsbe combined or exchanged in ways other than explicitly referencedherein, and the invention also extends to any such combinations orexchanges of features.

It will be appreciated that several version of ring pulls exist. Thedevice is functional for all forms of ring pull container and crimpedbottle tops.

In one embodiment of the present invention the internal comers of theslot 4 and 304 can be rounded for improved strength

Although the present invention is suited for use with keys to which thedevice is feasibly attached, the device can of course be used withseparate unattached keys.

1. A tool for turning keys comprising: a tool body having an elongateslot adapted to removably receive the head of a key; and an arrangementto allow flexible coupling of said tool body and said key to allow saidkey to be placed in and removed from said elongate slot.
 2. A tool asclaimed in claim 1, including a second slot in said tool body adjoiningsaid elongate slot for receiving part of said arrangement carried by keywhen said key is inserted in said elongate slot.
 3. A tool as claimed inclaim 2, wherein said second slot is perpendicular to said elongateslot.
 4. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate slot islocated at a first end of the tool body.
 5. A tool as claimed in claim1, wherein said tool body has a first face, and a second face adjoiningthe first face, and said elongate slot is located in both the first andsecond faces of the tool body.
 6. A tool as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid arrangement to allow flexible coupling comprises an aperture insaid tool body.
 7. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidarrangement to allow flexible coupling comprises one of the groupconsisting of: a cord; a chain; a loop, a key ring and a clip.
 8. A toolas claimed in claim 6, wherein said arrangement to allow flexiblecoupling includes a loop, wherein said loop is attached to the tool bodyvia said aperture and said loop is also attachable to the key.
 9. A toolas claimed in claim 8, wherein the distance between the second slot andthe aperture matches the distance between opposing points on the loop,such that the loop can be rotated about a point on the loop inside theaperture to engage the opposing point on the loop into said second slotwhilst engaging a key head carried on said opposing point into saidelongate slot.
 10. A tool as claimed in claim 8, wherein the distancebetween the second slot and the aperture is slightly greater than orslightly less than the distance between opposing points on the loop, andthe loop is elastically deformable to the extent that it can be engagedin the second slot when deformed.
 11. A tool as claimed in claim 8,wherein said loop comprises a key ring.
 12. A tool as claimed in claim1, wherein said tool body is elongate and has a tapered shape, beingthinnest at an end nearest to the aperture.
 13. A tool as claimed inclaim 6, wherein said aperture is elongate.
 14. A tool as claimed inclaim 6, wherein said aperture is keyhole shaped.
 15. A tool as claimedin claim 6, wherein said aperture is located at an edge of said toolbody.
 16. A tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein said aperture has afirst end, a second end, and a constriction between the two ends, saidconstriction narrowing the aperture between the two ends.
 17. A tool asclaimed in claim 1, whrein said arrangement to allow flexible couplingis adapted for flexibly coupling said tool body and a plurality of keys.18. A tool as claimed in claim 17, comprising a plurality of cords orchains for attaching a plurality of keys to the tool body.
 19. A tool asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said elongate slot is deeper than saidsecond slot.
 20. A tool as claimed in 2, wherein the second slot iscurved.
 21. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate slot isof a size and shape suitable for accommodating the pull tab of a ringpull.
 22. A tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate slot has astep inside which divides said elongate slot into a wide part and adeeper narrow part.
 23. A tool as claimed in claim 22 wherein said stepis chamfered towards the narrow part of the slot.
 24. A tool, as claimedin claim 1, wherein a region of the face of the tool body surroundingthe elongate slot slopes inwards towards the elongate slot.
 25. A toolas claimed in claim 1, comprising a turntable affixed to said tool body,said turntable having a plurality of means for attaching keys, such thatsaid turntable may be rotated in order to bring one of said means forattaching keys closer to said elongate slot.
 26. A tool as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said tool body has a line of weakness such that thetool will break if it is used to apply an excessive force to a key.